December 1^st-

This morning was scary for me. Racer was lying down out near the creek and when I approached him talking to him, he didn’t even raise his head up. I was able to bute him while he was still laying down (and he hates bute!)  I backed off and asked him if he was going to get up, but he just laid there. I got really mad and told him “Suck it up Mustang, I need you on your feet!" He raised his head, and I swear he glared at me- but he got up. Then he just stood there, we were so close to the creek, I wanted him to walk to it, but he refused. I put his halter on him and told him to walk, and he looked at me with stony silence. Finally after much urging by me, he walked into the creek with me and we stood there for awhile. When I thought it had been enough time, I slid off his halter and left him in the water. I started to walk away. He watched me go, but didn’t move. 

I turned around and walked some more, turned back and he was still there. I didn’t know if him being in the water long periods of time might be doing more damage to him, so I went back to him and using a twig (waving it in the air) I got him moving and he came up and out of the water.  Satisfied that he would follow me, I walked away, and after a few minutes, he did follow a short distance and stopped, then he slowly laid down flat on the ground. I went in to call the vet.

Dr Mike arrived with his portable x-ray machine and took films. He looked at Racer and said he was unhappy at the lack of progress. He said he was looking for rotation of the coffin bone, and how advanced the laminitis was in the legs and feet. 

The treatment has changed. I am to feed only junk hay, no strategy, no treats. His medicine is to be mixed in water and squirted in his mouth instead of mixed with food. I am to walk him to the creek 3 times a day and spend at least 35 minutes in the creek with him. The bute was upped to 4 grams. Dr. Mike said that Racer’s blood levels were wacky, but nothing made sense, in that nothing “paired up”  to create the founder.

I gave Racer another bute treatment, and turned him out in the pasture.  Later, we would go and stand in the creek for 35 minutes.  I also went over to talk to our back property neighbors. I filled them in on what was going on with Racer and asked them to watch him if and when they could for signs of him really being in distress. (the added medication could make him colic). If they saw anything out of the ordinary, I asked them to please call me right away. They had recently lost a horse to Founder, and they said they would watch him as best they could.

Tonight my farrier called- and we had a long talk. He told me a lot of things and my mind is so numb that I hope I remember it all. He said that the success rate in fighting founder, depends on the horse, the owner and the professionals who are caring for the horse. He said it depends on how much the horse wants to live, what type of character the horse has and who his owner is. He said that all the cases of founder he has handled, the outcomes are never predictable and he warned me that anything can happen.  He said that there will be times when he may have to take Racer to a pain level, he won't want to be in, but that Dr. Mike will be here to give him a shot to knock him out so the work can be performed.  He said he will not intentionally inflict pain to him, but it might happen. However, until he stablizes, they can’t do anything for him. It is a waiting game. He said 4 more people have been added to the Racer Team- two more vets available by consult and another farrier. Just as my hopes were rising, he sobered me right up by saying that if there is a medical reason this founder happened, then there is a possibility that Racer could die no matter what we do.  I hung up the phone and went outside took Racer to the creek and sobbed into his neck.

10:54 p.m.  At bed check Racer was lying out in the pasture with Trav. I hiked out and gave him some junk  hay, a hug, and told him I loved him. Then I went over and fussed over Trav  so he wouldn’t get jealous.  Next step is to continue the creek treatments and call the vet on Wednesday. Clint said he will try and stop by tomorrow, but he is slammed with work but he will be here for sure on Thursday.